Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha ekonatriMsho.adhyAyaH
    kuvalayApIDamAraNam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Lesson 29 - Kuvalayapida Killed
vaishampAyana uvAcha
tasminnahani nirvR^itte dvitIye samupasthite |
ApUryata mahAra~NgaH paurairyuddhadidR^ikShubhiH ||2-29-1
vaishaMpAyana said:
That day was over. On the second day, the large venue was filled with people who came to see the fight.
sachitrAShTAsricharaNAH sArgaladvAravedikAH |
sagavAkShArdhachandrAshcha sutalpottamabhUShitAH ||2-29-2
The arena was decorated with pictures. Pillars on eight corners supported the stage. The entrances were beautified with arches. Beautiful beds and pillows were provided.
prA~NmukhaishchArunirmuktairmAlyadAmAvataMsitaiH |
alaMkR^itairvirAjadbhiH shAradairiva toyadaiH ||2-29-3
The main entrance facing east was decorated with flower garlands looking like rain clouds in autumn.
ma~nchAgAraiH suniryuktairyuddhAya suvibhUShitaiH |
samAjavATaH shushubhe sameghaugha ivArNavaH ||2-29-4
The wrestling arena dazzled with wrestlers dressed for fighting. The entrance of the arena was shining like sea with many clouds.
svakarmadravyayuktAbhiH patAkAbhirnirantaram |
shreNInAM cha gaNAnAM cha ma~nchA bhAntyachalopamAH ||2-29-5
Always carrying the flags and the tools appropriate for their trades, the rows of groups of artists and craftsmen shone like mountains.
antaHpuracharANAM cha prekShAgArANyanekashaH |
rejuH kA~nchanachitrANi ratnajvAlAkulAni cha ||2-29-6
Many viewing places were arranged for ladies. The women dazzled with variety of golden ornaments and jewels.
tAni ratnaughakL^iptAni sasAnupragrahANi cha |
rejurjavanikAkShepaiH sapakShA iva khe nagAH ||2-29-7
The viewing places with two floors with curtains, decorated with jewels shone like mountains with wings.
tatra chAmarahAraischa bhuShaNAnAM cha si~njitaiH |
vANInAM cha vichitrANAM vichitrAshcherurarchiShaH ||2-29-8
The sounds of plumes, garlands and ornaments mingled with sweet speech. The strange combination (of sounds) emerged from the area.
gaNikAnAM pR^itha~Nma~nchAH shubhairAstaraNAmbaraiH |
shobhitA vAramukhyAbhirvimAnapratimaujasaH ||2-29-9
Places with good clothes were provided for courtesans. Those places dazzled along with courtesans like an aerial car.
tatrAsanAni khyAtAni parya~NkAshcha hiraNmayAH |
prakIrNAshcha kuthAshchitrAH sapuShpastabakairvR^itAH ||2-29-10
There were beautiful seats and golden couches. Variegated clothes decorated with bunches of flowers were spread on them.
sauvarNAH pAnakumbhAshcha pAnabhUmyashcha shobhitAH |
phalAvadaMshapUrNAshcha chA~NgeryaH pAnayojitAH ||2-29-11
The place shone with golden pots for drinking. Suitable fruits, condiments and others with sour taste were provided with drinks.
anye cha ma~nchA bahavaH kAShThasa~nchayabandhanAH |
rejuH prastaraNAstatra shatasho.atha sahasrashaH ||2-29-12
There were many other viewing places made of wood. Hundreds of thousands of such places shone there, spread with clothes.
uttamAgArikAshchaiva sUkShmajAlAvalokinaH |
strINAM prekShagR^ihA bhAnti rAjahaMsA ivAMbare ||2-29-13
Places covered with fine netting were provided for women. They shone like swans in the sky.
prA~NmukhashchAruniryukto merushR^i~NgasamaprabhaH |
rukmapatranibhastambhashchitraniryogashobhitaH ||2-29-14
The east facing entrance shone like the peak of meru mountain. It was beautiful with pillars covered with golden sheets and variety of pictures.
prekShAgAraH sa kaMsasya prachakAshe.adhikaM shriyA |
shobhito mAlyadAmaishcha nivAsakR^italakShaNaH ||2-29-15
The viewing place for kaMsa shone with more splendour. It was decorated with garlands with all signs of royal palace.
tasminnAnAjanAkIrNe janaughapratinAdite |
samAjavATe saMstabdhe kampamAnArNAvaprabhe ||2-29-16
As crowds of people assembled and as their noise reverberated, as the entrances were blocked like an ocean without any movement,
rAjA kuvalayApIDaH samAjadvAri ku~njaraH |
tiShThatviti samAj~nApya prekShAgAramupAyayau ||2-29-17
the king arrived at his viewing place, ordering: The elephant kuvalayApIDa should be kept near the entrance.
sa shukle vAsasI bibhrachChvetavyajanachAmaraH |
shushubhe shvetamukuTaH shvetAbhra iva chandramAH ||2-29-18
The king was dressed in white clothes. Being fanned with white yak plumes and wearing a white crown, he sparkled like the full moon surrounded by white clouds.
tasya simhAsanasthasya sukhAsInasya dhImataH |
rUpamapratimam dR^iShTvA paurAH prochurjayAshiShaH ||2-29-19
The intelligent king sat on his throne comfortably. Seeing his incomparable form the citizens shouted victory to him.
tataH pravivishurmallA ra~NgamAvalitAmbarAH |
tisrashcha bhAgashaH kakShAH prAvishanbalashAlinaH ||2-29-20
Then the wrestlers entered the arena, tightening their waists. The powerful men sat in three rows.
tatastUryaninadena kShveDitAsphoTitena cha |
vasudevasutau hR^iShTau ra~NgadvAramupasthitau ||2-29-21
Then, accompanied by the sounds of tUrya (a musical instrument), shouts and the clapping of hands, the sons of vasudeva, happily arrived at the entrance of the arena.
ballavau vastrasaMvItau suravandanabhUShitau |
UrdhvapIDau sragApIDau bAhushastrakR^itau yamau |
They were dressed for the occasion. Their bodies were smeared with sandalwood paste. Sandalwood marks were on their foreheads. They were wearing garlands. Both, looking like twins, had their mighty arms as weapons.
AsphoTayaMtAvanyonyaM bAhU chaivArgalopamau ||2-29-22
Slapping on each other's mighty arms and hands (as wide) as doors, they shouted.
tAvApatantau tvaritau pratiShiddhau varAnanau |
tena mattena nAgena chodyamAnena vai bhR^isham ||2-29-23
As they approached quickly, the handsome (brothers) were blocked by the intoxicated elephant which was stationed there for the purpose.
sa matttahastI duShTAtmA kR^itvA kuNDalinaM karam |
chakAra chodito yatnaM nihantuM balakeshavau ||2-29-24
The angry, intoxicated elephant raised its trunk and attempted to kill balarAma and keshava as intended.
tataH prahasitaH kR^iShNastrAsyamAno gajena vai |
kaMsasya tanmataM chaiva jagarhe sa durAtmanaH ||2-29-25
kR^iShNa, whom the elephant was trying to frighten, laughed. kR^iShNa condemned the wicked soul, kaMsa's intention.
tvarate khalu kaMso.ayaM gantuM vaivasvatakShayam |
yo mAmanena nAgena pradharShayitumichChati ||2-29-26
"kaMsa must be eager to go to vaivasvata (god of death) since he wished to attack me with elephant."
sannikR^iShTe tato nAge garjamAne tathA ghane |
sahasotpatya govindashchakre tAlasvanaM prabhuH ||2-29-27
As the elephant approached roaring like a rain cloud, lord govinda jumped suddenly and clapped his hands.
kShveDitAsphoTitaravaM kR^itvA nAgasya chAgrataH |
karaM sasIkaraM tasya pratijagrAha vakShasA ||2-29-28
Roaring and clapping his hands in front of the elephant, he caught the elephant/s trunk, wet with drops of water and pressed it with his chest.
viShANAntarago bhUtvA punashcharaNamadhyagaH |
babAdhe taM gajaM kR^iShNaH pavanastoyadaM yathA ||2-29-29
Going between the elephant's tusks and again between its legs, kR^iShNa harassed the elephant like the wind harassing the rain clouds.
sa hastAgrAdviniShkrAnto viShANAgrAchcha dantinaH |
vimuktaH padamadhyAchcha kR^iShNo dvijamapothayat ||2-29-30
Escaping from the elephant's trunk and its tusks and coming out from the middle of its legs, kR^iShNa dragged the elephant by its tail.
so.atikAyastu saMmUDho hantuM kR^iShNamashaknuvan |
gajah sveShveva gAtreShu mathyamAno rarAsa ha ||2-29-31
That huge elephant was unable to kill kR^iShNa. Hit on his body, the elephant trumpeted loudly.
papAta bhUmau jAnubhyAM dashanAbhyAM tutoda cha |
madaM susrAva roShAchcha gharmApAye yathA ghanaH ||2-29-32
The elephant fell on his knees and its tusks struck the ground. Angered, water of mada came out as rain from clouds in the rainy season.
kR^iShNastu tena nAgena krIDitvA shishulIlayA |
nidhanAya matiM chakre kaMsadviShTena chetasA ||2-29-33
kR^iShNa fought the elephant like a child playing. He decided to kill the elephant, with anger in his mind towards kaMsa.
sa tasya pramukhe pAdaM kR^itvA kumbhAdanantaram |
dorbhyAM viShANamutpATya tenaiva prAharattadA ||2-29-34
Placing his right foot on the elephant's forehead, he pulled out both the tusks and stabbed the elephant with the tusks.
sa tena vajrakalpena svena dantena ku~njaraH |
hanyamAnaH shakR^inmUtraM mumochArto rarAsa ha ||2-29-35
The elephant, stabbed by its own tusks, strong as vajra, screamed and began to pass stool and urine.
kR^iShNajarjaritA~Ngasya ku~njarasyArtachetasaH |
kaTAbhyAmati susrAva vegavadbhUri shoNitam ||2-29-36
Its limbs struck by kR^iShNa, the elephant was in a pathetic condition. Lots of blood oozed out from its wounds.
lA~NgUlaM chAsya vegena nishchakarSha halAyudhaH |
shailapR^iShThArdhasaMlInaM vainateya ivoragam ||2-29-37
halAyudha (balarAma) pulled out its tail quickly like vinata's son (garuda) pulls out a snake whose half body is hidden inside a hill.
tenaiva gajadantena kR^iShNo hatvA tu dantinam |
jaghAnaikaprahAreNa gajArohaNamulbaNam ||2-29-38
With one powerful strike of the same elephant tusk with which kR^iShNa killed the elephant, kR^iShNa killed the strong mahout.
sortanAdaM mahatkR^itvA vidanto dantinAM varaH |
papAta sa mahAmAtro vajrabhinna ivAchalaH ||2-29-39
The great elephant, losing its tusks, screamed loudly and fell down along with mahAmAtra (mahout) like a mountain split by vajra.
tatastau toraNA~NgAni pragR^ihya raNakarkashau |
gajasya pAdarakShAMshcha jaghnatuH puruSharShabhau ||2-29-40
Then the two bulls of men, the skilled fighters, picked up broken pillars and killed the attendants guarding the elephant's legs.
tAMshcha hatvA vivishaturmadhyaM ra~Ngasya tAvubhau |
nAsatyAvashvinau svargAdavatIrNAvivechChayA ||2-29-41
Killing them, both of them entered the arena like asvinIdeva-s had come down from heaven at their own will.
vR^iShNyandhakAshcha bhojAshcha dadR^ishurvanamAlinau |
kShveDitotkR^iShTanAdena bAhvorAsphoTitena cha |
siMhanAdaishcha tAlaishcha harShayAmAsaturjanam ||2-29-42
Seeing the two wearing flower garlands, the vR^iShNi-s, andhaka-s and bhoja-s rejoiced by shouting, clapping their hands and roaring.
tau dR^iShTvA bhojarAjastu viShasAda vR^ithAmatiH |
paurANAmanurAgaM cha harShaM chAlakShya bhArata ||2-29-43
O bhArata (janamejaya)! (vaishaMpAyana said) Seeing the two (brothers ), the joy of spectators and their love, the king of bhoja-s (kaMsa), of vain intelligence, was sad.
taM hatvA puNDarIkAkSho nadantaM dantinAM varam |
avatIrNo.arNavAkAraM samAjaM sahapUrvajaH ||2-29-44
killing the roaring great elephant, kR^iShNa, along with his elder brother (balarAma) entered the arena, vast like an ocean.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi kuvalayApIDavadhe ekonatriMsho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the twenty-nineth lesson of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrImahAbhArata, Kuvalayapida Killed.

    nIlakaNTha commentary

ekonatriMshe kaMsebhapramukhasyAtha mAraNam ||
shrIkR^iShNena kuvalayApIDanAmno nirUpyate ||
  • 2-29-1 tasmin iti ||
  • 2-29-2 yatra ma~nchAH bhAnti sa samAjavATaH prA~Nmukhairma~nchAgAraiH shushubhe iti pa~nchamachaturthatR^itIyasthAnAM padAnAM saMbandhaH | tatra ma~nchAH kIdR^ishA ityata Aha dvitIyena shlokena | sachitreti | chitrasahitAH sachitrAH aShTAstrayo aShTakoNAshcharaNA yeShAM te sachitrAShTAstricharaNAH ||
  • 2-29-3 nirmuktaiH viralatantubhirantaH paTairyuktAni ma~nchAgArANi yeShu sthitAH rAjadArAH sarvaM bahisthaM pashyanti bAhyAshcha tAnna pashyanti tAdr^shaishchArunirmuktaiH ||
  • 2-29-4 suniryuktaiH shobhanAH niryuktAH mallAdayo yeShu taiH ||
  • 2-29-5 svakarmadravyayuktAbhiH yasya shilpavato yadupakaraNadravyaM tena chihnitAbhiH shreNInAm anekajAtinAmapyekashilpopajIvinAm gaNAnAm ekajAtinAm ||
  • 2-29-7 tAniti | javanikArUpairAkShepairantarddhikaraistirohitAdhobhAgAni ratnoghaiH kl^iptAni kR^itAni prekShAgArANi sasAnupragrahANi uparideshe sapatAkAni khe sapakShaparvatavatbhAntItyarthaH ||
  • 2-29-8 tatra prekShAgAreShu ||
  • 2-29-10 kuthAH AstaraNavisheShAH ||
  • 2-29-11 phalAvadaMshAH jambhIrAdupadaMshAstaiH pUrNAH chA~NgeryaH chukrikAdipAnarasAH pAnayojitAH pAnArthaM sthApitAH
  • 2-29-12 prastharaNAH prakR^iShTAstaraNAH |
  • 2-29-13 uttamAgArikAH gR^ihopari gR^ihaM yattduttamAgAraM tatra bhavAH | sUkShmajAladvArAvaloko yastadvantaH | prekShAgR^ihAH prekShArtho gR^ihAH ||
  • 2-29-14 prA~NmukhaH prekShAgAraH kaMsasya chakAro iti dvayoH saMbandhaH ||
  • 2-29-17 rAjA kaMsaH ||
  • 2-29-20 AvalitAni prasphuritAni ambarANi yeShAm ||
  • 2-29-21 kShveDitaM tatsahitena AsphoTitena AsphAlalena upalakShitau ||
  • 2-29-24 karaM shuNDAdaNDam ||
  • 2-29-27 tAlasvanaM gajaM kopayituM karatAlikAdhvanim ||
  • 2-29-29 babAdha vyAkulaM chakAra ||
  • 2-29-30 apothayat puchChAkarShaNena bhUmau dharShitavAn ||
  • 2-29-31 saMmUDhaH vyAkulaH rarAsa shabdaM kR^itavAn ||
  • 2-29-32 dashanAbhyAM mUlato bhagnAbhyAM tutoda vyathAM prApa ||
  • 2-29-34 pramukhe bhUmadhyadeshe viShANaM dantam ||
  • 2-29-39 sArteti sandhirArShaH | 'so.achiti' vA sorlopaH | mahanmahAntam ||
  • 2-29-40 toraNasya bahirdvArasya a~NgAni stambhAdIni toraNaM vAhanaM gajastasyA~NgAnIti dantadvaye dvAbhyAM gR^ihItamityanye ||
  • 2-29-43 bhojarAjaH kaMsaH viShasAda viShAdaM prApa | tatra hetvantaraM paurANAmanurAgaM cha kR^iSHNe AlakShya ||
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivamshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAmekonatriMsho.adhyAyaH ||
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr@yahoo.ca, June 21, 2008
Notes: 1) verse 7 : the space between kA and kShe has been bridged
2) verse 42 : is it simhanAda ?
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
November 1, 2009 ##